Year of the Snake: Dublin celebrates Chinese culture in Ireland

Dublin joined cities across the globe this weekend in celebrating the Chinese New Year and welcoming the Year of the Snake. Established in 2008, the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival is now a major event in the city's cultural calendar with a Chinese film festival at the Lighthouse cinema, seminars and a lecture series for businesses, and a carnival in Temple Bar, among other attractions.

Even the miserable weather couldn't dispel the sense of occasion in Temple Bar as revellers enjoyed traditional dragon and lion dances. Activities included arts and music programmes, martial arts and sports displays.

At a Chinese New Year banquet, hosted by Lord Mayor of Dublin Naoise ó Muiri on Friday, impresarios Moya Doherty and John McColgan of Riverdance fame received an award for enhancing relations between China and Ireland. Riverdance is on a 23-city tour of China.

Yesterday the Mayor was joined by Chinese ambassador to Ireland Luo Linquan to open the carnival. After the family events, Sarah Jane Wai O'Flynn rocked the evening away with her band Dirty Epics.

Dublin festivities to mark the year of the snake continue until February 22nd. A list is available at cny.ie